Power Rangers In Space by Heather Ray (uplifting book club books .txt) 📕

always had, and I feel like its truly mine. Like its a part of me. That's why its mine, and I want it back!"

"You'll get it back, so long as you keep cooperating," Carlos said, "So, what did you mean from 'the beginning'? You got the medallion half when you were born?"

"I... I don't know when I actually received it," Astronema answered, "but I can't remember a time when I didn't have it. So, I've always had it."

Carlos glanced up at Andros for his opinion. Andros' face remained stoic, and his green eyes stared deeply into Astronema's brown ones. Finally, a scowl crossed her face.

"And what are you staring at?!" she demanded. Andros chose not to answer her.

"What was your childhood like?" he asked. All the rangers looked at the Red Ranger in surprise. And apparently, so did Astronema.

"My what?"

"Your childhood," Andros repeated, "Where did you grow up? What are your parents like? What species are you?"

"I didn't have a childhood," Astronema answered indignantly, "Unlike you inferior Humans, I was already somewhat physically mature when I was created. I am Lucian."

"What's that?" TJ asked, turning to Andros.

"Lucians are beings who were created by an ancient race known as the Nanaku. The Nanaku were brilliant scientists, who had the technology to create living beings and incubate them in machines, rather than through natural means. The Lucians aren't born. They are simply released from the incubators, fully grown. That would be something like the late teens in human terms."

"But, if they were an ancient race, how old would Astronema be?" Ashley asked.

"The Nanaku were destroyed almost a decade ago," Andros answered, "Nanak was the planet Dark Spectre crushed right before he leveled KO 35. He traveled nearly a quarter across the galaxy to get to my homeworld, and lay it to waste."

"How old are

you, Astronema?" Ashley asked, turning to the villainess with a suspicious gaze, "One hundred? One thousand?"

"I'm practically an infant relative to most species, including yours," Astronema said, "I have been alive for eleven Standard years, and I was the physical maturity of a human seven year old."

"That doesn't make sense," TJ said, "Lucians are bred to be mature."

"I was an exception," Astronema barked, "Deal with it."

"Do you remember the Nanaku laboratory?" Andros asked, "Lucians are famous for perfect memories."

Astronema glared at Andros. "No, I don't. Maybe its because I was released from incubation early, due to Dark Spectre's invasion. Maybe he saved me, when he let everyone else on the planet die."

"If you don't remember, then where did you get all this from?" Carlos inquired.

"Because my first memory was opening my eyes on Dark Spectre's flagship," Astronema muttered, "That's what he told me-- that my world had to be destroyed for the greater good. I owed my existence to Dark Spectre. If he hadn't let me live, I never would have lived. I would have been like an aborted child."

"And you believed him?" Andros asked.

"Why shouldn't I have?" Astronema asked, "He is the reason I exist, and so I serve him forever."

"And what about the medallion?" Andros pressed, "Did he give you an explanation for it?"

"He said it was mine, from before I awoke," Astronema answered, "Its mine, since the beginning."

"How convenient," Ashley muttered. Andros turned around, and looked at Ashley in suprise. But her frown remained intact as she returned Andros' gaze.

"I... I think that's enough for now," Andros said finally, releasing a long breath, "Alpha, did you get the results of those scans?"

"Yes," Alpha responded, stepping out of the corner he had taken refuge in, "DECA has all the results ready for your perusal."

"Good," Andros said, leaving the brig abruptly, "Let's take a break."

Chapter Twelve

"Incredible!!" Darkonda roared, his words mixed into his uproarious laughter. His laughter nearly caused him to fall off Astronema's throne, where he had made himself comfortable. "Simply incredible! Ecliptor! You have to see this!"

"See what?" Ecliptor answered, entering the throne room. He gazed at Ecliptor, and pulled his sword from its hilt. "I thought I told you not to insult my mistress by sitting on her throne."

"Fine, fine, whatever," Darkonda mumbled, stepping away from the throne, "Take a look at the screen!"

Through the magical mind-link Astronema created herself and the monitor in the throne room, both Ecliptor and Darkonda could witness everything Astronema saw and heard. Ecliptor gazed at the screen, and listened to the conversation between his mistress and the Astro Rangers. He frowned.

"I wonder when Astronema decided to be Lucian?" Darkonda wondered aloud.

"Perhaps during all those hours she pretended to sleep," Ecliptor scoffed, "Seeing the inside of her eyelids for hours was enough to make me lose my interest in this little display."

"Pure brilliance. It explains away her lack of memories, and its perfectly timed. The planet Nanak was destroyed a few months before Karone's abduction. It works perfectly!!"

"Wonderful," Ecliptor muttered sarcastically.

"Why aren't you a bit more enthusiastic?" Darkonda questioned, "Your mistress is only a few steps away from being the Queen of Evil! She's got them hook, line, and sinker!"

"In case you didn't notice, we have a very clear view of the Power Rangers," Ecliptor said, pointing to the small screen, "and I for one see an extremely suspicious Yellow Ranger."

"So?" Darkonda asked, "All Astronema needs to do is convince Andros. Actually, that isn't even necessary! She just has to make him wonder enough about her real identity to let her out of the brig. Then, she can sabotage the ship, and we're in! The rangers'll be history!"

"And what if Andros isn't convinced at all? I don't know if you've noticed, but the Yellow Ranger's opinion matters a great deal to him."

"Then Andros'll let Astronema go, just like he promised. Power Rangers don't go back on their word. In either case, Astronema comes home safe and sound. So anyway, what've you been up to?"

"I've been organizing the next phase in this plan," Ecliptor answered, "The way I see it, our prime opportunity to strike will be once Astronema gets out of the brig, to a lower security area. We shall use the Velocifighters to create the diversion that will give her the chance to sabotage the ship's shields. Once the shields are down, we can teleport Astronema to safety, and teleport the Quantrons on board. Also, if I feel it necessary, the two of us can also teleport to the ship, and do some more specific damage. Of course, this is all assuming Astronema manages to trick Andros."

Darkonda laughed deeply. "Are you kidding?! She's already got 'im eating out of her hand!" Ecliptor frowned. "You underestimate the Red Ranger."

"No, I think I've measured the boy up pretty well," Darkonda chuckled, "He's a failure when it counts most-- when his planet was destroyed, and when his sister was kidnapped. He'll fail again. After all, why break a perfect record?"

Chapter Thirteen

"Nothing," Andros muttered, his fists clenched tightly, "Absolutely nothing..."

"This is unbelievable," Carlos said, staring at the computer screen again, "Every single one of the readings has proved inconclusive! Every one!"

"Like I said, pretty convenient," Ashley said, folding her arms, "Astronema has managed to obscure the data from the scans we've conducted. That way, we can't have any hard proof she's not Karone."

"Or, maybe she just naturally has so much energy in her system, that she automatically threw the scans off," TJ suggested, "We need to consider every possibility."

"Fine," said Andros, turning his back on the data screen of the medical lab, the location of the most highly advanced biological computers. He sat down on the bench along the wall, and touched his forehead, "Where do we go from here?"

"Well, are there any aliens you're familiar with that can't be scanned?" Cassie asked.

"No. But that doesn't mean there aren't any. I haven't travelled the entire universe."

"Then you're saying Lucians can

be scanned," Ashley said.

"They can. They do have abilities, but nothing so powerful as to throw off all those different bio-scans," Andros said, "That is nearly impossible."

"How would someone throw off a bio-scan?"asked TJ, "What are the circumstances?"

Andros sighed deeply. "All the scans are different, so different energy sources within the individual would do the trick. But since every single one of the scans came up inconclusive, that would mean Astronema is a center for powerful magical energy."

"If she is so powerful, then why didn't she break out of prison yet?" Ashley questioned.

"Just because Astronema is a center for magical energy, doesn't mean she can control it," Andros answered, "She lost her scepter back on Earth, remember? That may have been the focus, to concentrate the magic in her body into an attack spell. Also, if the energy in Astronema is foreign, then she wouldn't be able to control it, yet she still would possess it in her system."

"How would the energy be 'foreign'

?" Cassie inquired.

"As in, maybe the energy was placed into her by someone else," TJ said, rubbing his chin, "Like...Dark Spectre

! She could be under some kind of empowering spell!"

"Then it could be like us," Carlos said, "We don't have magical power, but the Astro Morphers are a focus for the energies given to us."

"Close," said Andros, "The Astro powers are as much techological as magical. But the Great Power, which was the energy pool for a different team of Power Rangers, would follow those lines. And so would the Zeo Crystal. Still, I don't think the Great Power itself could infuse a being with that much power!"

"But nothing we've said is a fact," Ashley said, "We could be running down the completely wrong path here!"

"Wait," said Andros, rising to his feet, "maybe not..."

Andros walked back to the main computer screen, and stood beside his fellow Power Rangers. "DECA, what bio-structure class are the Lucians?"

After almost a minute, DECA located the answer. ^Bio-structure 8.^

"Then